Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Visited Mr Rymell and Mr Whale at Rye Hill farm.

Visited Austin Gardner who was thrown out of his dog-cart last Saturday, but not seriously hurt. He volunteered the statement that they were not the worse for drink as had been stated, for that they had only had a small quantity of whiskey. He told me how the accident happened. The new horse was in the shafts and would not turn the way required whilst the leader (tandem) did and thus the cart was overturned, but so fixed were the shafts over the back of the animal who was partly down that he could not kick, otherwise Gardner said his brains would have been dashed out.

Attended School Attendance Committee at Banbury.

Dr Hudson had reported that one child had died in Banbury and another had been nearly killed by overpressure at school. He had written to the Newspapers as well as the Board of Guardians about the matter. But his statements were contradicted, and as those who know him have little or no confidence in him, owing to his drinking propensities, no serious action was taken in the matter.

Bell, Frank and Webb went into Banbury with me. They returned to Sibford. I went on to London by the 1.15 train and thence to Brighton where I arrived at 7 pm. Put up at the Grand Hotel. Wrote to Rev. A. Humphrey Rector of Thorpe Mandeville who had asked me to send Frank to him to school. I told him my movements were at present so uncertain that I would continue to teach him myself for the present.

I walked from West to East end of Brighton and back.